Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has installed the Siemens Healthineers’ ARTIS Icono, an advanced stroke interventional system that incorporates 2D and 3D imaging with artificial intelligence.
“With victims of ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke, timing is crucial,” said Dr Khalil Zahra, Chief of Neuro-interventional Surgery in the Neurological Institute of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. “Minutes count. Typically, we aim for a maximum of about six hours from symptom onset to perform what is called a neuro-thrombectomy, a procedure that dissolves the clot in a patient’s brain. This new system makes that process much faster and more precise, which will save lives.”
In traditional stroke intervention, the patient begins with a CT scan, and surgeons review imaging manually before operating to dissolve the blood clot. The ARTIS Icono transforms this process using artificial intelligence to deliver unparalleled image quality and reconstruction in real-time. Surgeons can skip a CT scan and begin treatment immediately. This saves precious time, gives surgeons far better visibility, and exposes the patient to less harmful radiation.
“According to the World Health Organization, one in four people run the risk of having a stroke in their lifetime. In the UAE, about 25 percent of UAE adults have hypertension, which puts our population at greater risk of having a stroke,” said Dr. Zahra. “Here, stroke is the leading cause of disability and the third leading cause of death. It has never been more crucial to have the most innovative technology available for treating patients. This highly sophisticated system will ultimately help us give stroke victims the finest care in the world and the best possible chance of recovery.”
The new system will be housed at the Neurological Institute’s Neurovascular Medicine Program and Stroke Center at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, which offers a full range of the latest diagnostic and treatment options for patients with stroke and other cerebrovascular conditions.
